Nasa chief warns China is masking military presence in space with civilian programs

Bill Nelson told Capitol Hill lawmakers that China has been very, very secretive' about its space progress, warning we are in a race'

The head of Nasa has warned of China bolstering its space capabilities by using civilian programs to mask military objectives, cautioning that Washington must remain vigilant.

China has made extraordinary strides especially in the last 10 years, but they are very, very secretive," Nasa administrator Bill Nelson told lawmakers on Capitol Hill.